Machine tool with spindle supporting boom



- July 8, 1958 A. A. MUEHLING 2,342,013

MACHINE TOOL WITH SPINDLE SUPPORTING BOOM Filed March 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 TEE-3:15 6 /4 INVENTOR. ANTHONY A Ml/f/lll/VG 1 July 8, 1958 A. A. MUEHLING 2,842,013

MACHINE TOOL WITH SPINDLE SUPPORTING BOOM Filed March 29. 1954 "TIE: 4

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 47 46 49 INVENTOR.

A/VI'l/O/VY A. Mun/z /w6 BY ATTOR/VIVS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 8, 1958 A. MUEHLING MACHINE TOOL WITH SPINDLE SUPPORTING BOOM Filed March 29. 1954 a s H Mn N m M x. M W 1A 4 v, m M a W AW. g

July 8, 1958 Filed March 29, 1954 A. A. MUEHLING MACHINE TOOL WITH SPINDLE SUPPORTING BOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ANTHONY A.Ml/f /L N6 A TTOR NEY-S United States Patent O MACHINE TOOL WITH SPINDLE SUPPORTING BOOM Anthony A. Muehling, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,339

Claims. (CI. 77-31) rendering it possible to swing the boom to either a horizontal position, a vertical position, or to intermediate t angular positions, depending on the type of work to be performed.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for feeding the boom in the direction of its axis relative to the machine frame. In the specific embodiment of the 2,842,013 Patented July 8,1958

2 drawings and is indicated. generally by the reference numeral 11. The machine tool 11 comprises suitable frame structure 12 having upright members 13 inthe form of angle bars and having a plate 14 suitably secured to the upper ends of the members 12. The upright members 13 are arranged with respect to one another to pro vied support engaging legs for the machine and the plate 14 serves as a working surface.

As seen in Figure 10, the upper end portions of th members 13 at one side of the frame 12 are connected, together by a plate 15 which serves as one side wall of the frame, and the members 13 at the opposite side of the frame are connected together by a plate 16 which forms the other side of the machine frame. The lower ends of the upright members 13 are brazed or connected together by a plate 17 which forms a platform at the bottom of the frame 12. If desired, a second platform 18 in the form of a plate may be provided intermediate the top plate 14 and the base plate or platform 17. The plate 18 extends between the side wallsor plates 15 and N 16 and terminates short of the rear side of the frame in invention selected herein for the purpose of illustration,

against downward movement by a stop which is sup- 7 ported on the machine frame for vertical adjustment to enable feeding the boom in either direction along its axis when the boom is in an upright position. i

It is still another object of this invention to provid readily operable control means supported on the machine frame for convenient manipulation and connected to the stop for raising and lowering the latter.

It is a further object of this invention to provide independently operable latching devices conveniently located for manipulation to respectively hold the boom against sliding movement from any preselected adjusted position and for holding the boom against swinging movement from any desired angular position with respect to the machine frame. i

It is a still further object of this invention to provide means responsive to swinging movement of the boom to an upright position for releasably holding said'boom in the latter position.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds especially when considered in connection with the accompanying 1 tool in connection with which the present inventionmay be successfully used.

The machine tool selected for the purpose of illustrating the present invention is shown in Figure 10 of the order to accommodate certain of the machine parts to be presently described.

Referring again to Figure 10 of the drawings, it will be noted that the machine tool 11 has a power head19 which is secured to one end of a supporting element in the form of a tubualr boom 20 of some considerable length. In Figure 10 of the drawings, the boom 20 is shown as supported in a vertical position and the power head 19 is secured to the upper end of the boom. The power head 19 comprises a support 21, a spindle 22, and an electric motor 23. The spindle 22 is mounted on the support 21 for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the boom 20 and provision is made at the inner end of the spindle for supporting either a tool or a work piece, depending on the type of work to be performed. In any case, the motor 23 is mounted on the support 21 and is connected to the outer end of the spindle 22 by a belt 24 which serves to drive the spindle 22.

In accordance with the present invention, the boom 20 may be swung from the horizontal position thereof shown in Figure l of the drawings to the vertical position shown in Figure 10 and may also be positioned in any selected angular position with respect to the machine frame 12. In addition, the boom 20 may be adjusted relative to the frame structure 12 in the direction of the axis of the boom and this adjustment may be accomplished in any of the various angular positions of the boom 20 relative to the frame 12. The above adjustments of the boom 20 are desired in order to locate the power head in the various positions required to enable converting the machine to either a drill press, a rotary saw, a sander, or lathes of different sizes. It will be noted that when the boom 20 is in its horizontal position with respect to the frame 12, it extends below the top plate 14 so that the latter provides an uninterruped working surface. It will further be noted from Figure 7 of the drawings that the top plate 14 is slotted as at 26 to provide clearance for the boom. 20 when the latter is in its vertical or upright position.

The boom 20 is mounted on the underside of the top plate 14 by a bracket 27 having axially spaced aligned bearing portions 28 and 29 connected together at diametrically opposite sides by bars 30 (Figs. 4 and 7). As shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the bearing portion 28 of the bracket 27 is fashioned with tubular portions or projections 31 which extend laterally from diametrically opposite sides of the bearing portion 28. The tubular projections 31 are in axial alignment and the common axis thereof extends horizontally at right angles to the axis of the boom 20 in intersecting relationship therewith. Suitable shafts 32 are respectively secured within the tubular projections 31 .by set .screws 33 and theouter 3 ends ofthe shafts 32 project beyond the corresponding ends of the projections 31. The extremities of the shafts 32 are respectively joilrnalled in bearings 34 and the latter arev secured by studs 35 to suitable bosses 36 which project downwardly'from the underside of the plate 14 at opposite sides of the slot 26in the plate 14.

It follows from the foregoing that the bracket 27 may be swung between the horizontal position thereof shown in Figure l and the vertical position shown in Figure 7. Inasmuch as the boom 20 is supported by the bearing portions 28' and 29"on the bracket, it also follows that the boom swings as a unitwith the bracket 27 The boom 20'is locatedin its horizontal position shown inFigure 1 by. an adjustable stop 37'comprisinga projection 38 extending laterally outwardly from the bearing portion 29 on the bracket 27, and a stud 39. The stud 391s threa'dably supported in a boss 40'depending from the underside of the plate 14 and has a head portion at' th'e'lower end for engagement with the top surface of. the projection 387 As a" result of this construction, accurate" location of the boom 24 in its horizontal positionmay be accomplished by adjusting the stud 39 relative to the projection 38; The stud is held in any desired adjustment position by a lock nut 41 threaded on the stud 39 in a position to" engage the bottom surface" of" the boss 40.

The. bracket 27 is capable of being filmly held in any desired angular position with respect to the frame structure 12 by a latching device 42. As shown in Figure'6' of the drawings, the latching device 42 comprises'a rod 43 having its axis extending at right angles to the axis ofthe boom and having the inner end projectingthrough a bore44 formed in the bearing portion 29' of the bracket 27 below the boom 20. The inner end of the rod 43 is threaded for engagement by a clamping'nut 45 andtheouter end of the rod 43 projects through a slot 46 formed in the side plate 16 on the frame structure 12. An enlargement 47 is formed on the rod 43 and extends from the inner surface of the wall 16 to the outer surface of the-bracket 27. The outer'end of the rod 43 is threaded for engagement by a clamping nut 48 having a flange 49 at the inner endarranged in bearing engagement with the outer surface of theplate-16. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the slot 46 is concentrically arranged with respect tothe axis of pivotal movement of the bracket 27 and is of suflicient length to permit swinging movement ofthe bracket 27 from its horizontal position shown in Figure 1 to its vertical position shown in Figure '7. lt' will-ofcourse be understood that the bracket as well as the boom'20 may-'be clamped in any selected angular position by merelytighteningthe nut 48 on the outer end of the rod43" and thismay be accomplished by asocket wrench indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings by the numeral 50;

The bracket 27 and the. boom 20 are accurately located in a vertical position by a stop 51 suitably mounted on the frame structure 12 of the machine in a position to engage the rod 43 when the bracket is swung to its vertical position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings. The bracket 27' or rod 43 is held inabutting engagement wit hthe stop 51 by an arm 52 which extends generally horizontally and is pivoted on the machine frame 12 by a pin 53. The pin 53 engages the arm 52 intermediate the ends thereof and the axis of the pin 53 extends substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal movement of the bracket 27 in order to permit swinging movement of the arm 52 in a vertical plane. The outer end of the. arm 52 is connected to one end of a spring 54 having the opposite end anchored to the frame structure 12 of the machine toolv in a position to-swingthe inner end of the arm 52 man upward direction. The inner end of the arm 52 projectsinto the path of travel of the enlargement 47 on the rod 43 and is engagedby'the enlargement upon swinging the bracket 27 to its vertical position. Thus, the inner end of the arm 52 is swung downwardly by the bracket 27 as the latter approaches its vertical position indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. The inner end of the arm 52 has a cam face 55 which engages the enlargement 47 in opposed relationship to the stop 51 and cooperates with the spring 54 to maintain the enlargement 47 in abutting engagement with the stop 51.. Thus, the arm 52 acts as an automatic lock for holding the boom 20 in its vertical position with respect to the frame structure 12.

The boom 20 is slidable relative to the bracket 27 in the direction of its axis and when in its vertical position is urged by the force of gravity in a downward direction against a stop 56. The stop 56 has a horizontal part 57 positioned for engagement by the lower end of the boom 20 and has a tubular portion 58. The tubular portion 58 has its axis extending vertically and is internally threaded for threadably engaging a vertically extending feed screw 59. The lower end of the feed screw 59 is journaled' in a bearing 60 and the latter in turn is secured to the plate 17 at the bottom of the frame structure 12. The upper end of the feed screw 59 is journalled in a. bracket 61 which, in turn, is mounted onv a vertical guide rod 62 extending in parallel relationship to the feed" screw 59. The lower end of the guide rod is securedto the plate 17 by clamping nuts 62 and the upper end of the guide rod is suitably fastened to the top plate 14 of the frame structure 12.

As shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, the tubular portion 58 of the stop 56 has an arm 63 projecting laterally from the upper end thereof and the free end of the arm is formed with a slot 64' for receiving the guide rod 62. Thus, rotation of. the stop with the feed screw 59 is prevented by the guide rod 62, and rotation of the feed screw in opposite directions serves to raise and lower the stop 56. Raising of the stop 56 by the screw 59 feeds the boom 20 in an upward direction and since the boom is held by the action of gravity in contact with the stop 56, it follows that lowering of the stop 56 by the screw 59 feeds the boom 20 in a downward direction.

The feed screw 59 is rotated from a position at the front side of the wall 15 by a crank 65. The crank 65 is secured to the outer end of a shaft 66 and the inner end of the shaft is journalled on a depending arm 67 of the bracket 61. A bevelled pinion 68 is secured to the shaft 66 at the inner side ofthe arm 67 and a collar 69 is secured to the shaft 66 at the outer side of the bracket arm 67. The bevelled pinion 68 mesheswith a bevelled pinion 70 which is secured to the upper end of the feed screw 59 so that rotation of the crank 65 imparts a rotative movement to the screw 59.

In accordance with the present invention, the boom 20 may be locked against sliding movement relative to the bracket 27 and, for accomplishing this result, a latching device 71 is provided. As shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the latching device 71 has a bolt in the form of a rod 72 which extends at right angles. to the axis of the boom 20. The inner. end 73 of the bolt or rod 72 is enlarged in diameter and slidably engages in axially aligned bores 74 respectively formed in the bars 30 of the bracket 27 below the boom 20. The side of the enlarged end 73 of the bolt is fashioned with an arcuate recess 75 and this recess is of sufficient radius to freely receive the adjacent portion of, the boom 20. The outer end 76 ofthe bolt 72 projects through. a slot 77 formed in the plate 16 on the frame structure. 12 and is threaded for engagement by'a clamping nut 78. The clamping nut 78 engages. the outer. endof a tubular spacer 79 which is sleeved onthe. end.76 of the. bolt 72'and engages. at therear end a washer. 80'. The washer 80 is mounted on the outer: end portion 76 of. the bolt 72 and is of sufficient diameter to engage the adjacent side of the bracket 27.

tightening of the clamping nut 78 on the bolt 72..shifts by a screw 83 and having the peripheral edge abuttingthe adjacent side of the bracket 27, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The arrangement is such that the spring 82 is placed under compression when the bolt 72 isshifted outwardly into frictional engagement with the, boom 20 and is held .under compression by the clamping nut 78. Thus, loosening of the clamping nut 78 permits the spring 82 to shift the bolt 72 inwardly sufliciently to release the bolt from wedging engagement with the boom 20 i As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the slot 77 in the plate 16 is concentric to the axis of pivotal movement of the bracket 27 and is of sufiicient length to permit unobstructed movement of the bracket 27 from its horizontal position shown in Figure l to its vertical position shown in Figure 7. Also, it is important to note that the clamping nut 78 is of the same size as the clamping nut 48 and may be readily engaged by the same socket wrench 50.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine tool, a frame structure, a boom having tool actuating means supported thereon adjacent one end thereof, means mounting the boom on the frame structure for sliding movement in the direction of the boom axis and for swinging movement between positions wherein the axis of the boom extends generally horizontally and vertically with respect to the frame structure, said mounting means comprising a bracket slidably supporting the boom and pivoted to the frame structure for turning movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the boom axis, an arm pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on the frame structure for swinging movement about an axis extending parallel to the axis of turning movement of the bracket, means projecting from the bracket and engageable with one end of the arm to swing the latter and downwardly upon movement of the boom to its vertical position, a stop fixed relative to the ma chine frame in opposed relationship to the end aforesaid of the arm and engageable by the projecting means on the bracket to locate the boom in its vertical position, and spring means acting on said arm for swinging the end aforesaid of the arm upwardly to a position where the latter end engages the projecting means on the bracket in opposed relationship to the stop.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 having a cam surface on the end aforesaid of the arm engageable with the projecting means on the bracket and responsive to the action of the spring means to cam said projecting means against said stop.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 comprising a second stop mounted on the machine frame for vertical movement and engageable with the lower end of the boom in the vertical position of the latter, and means for raising and lowering the stop to feed the boom in the direction of its axis.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 comprising releasable latch means carried by the bracket and engageable with the boom to hold the latter against sliding movement relative to said bracket.

5. In a machine tool, a frame structure, a boom having tool actuating means supported thereon adjacent one end thereof, means mounting the boom on the frame structure for sliding movement in the direction of the boom axis and for swinging movement between positions wherein the axis of the boom extends generally horizontally and vertically with respect to the frame structure,

6 said mounting means comprising a bracket slidably supporting. the boom and pivoted to the frame structure for turning movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the boom axis, releasable means for holding the boom against axial movement relative to the bracket, said releasable means comprising a bolt in the form of a rod having its axis extending perpendicular to the boom and mounted on the bracket to one side of the boom for sliding movement in directions perpendicular to the boom axis, said bolt having a recess intermediate the ends for freely receiving a portion of the boom, a clamping nut threaded on the bolt and cooperating with the bracket to wedge one side of the recess against the boom upon tightening the nut, and spring means acting on the bolt for moving said bolt to its released position relative to the boom upon loosening said nut.

6. In a machine tool, a frame structure, a boom having tool actuating means supported thereon adjacent one end thereof, means mounting the boom on the frame structure for swinging movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boom between positions wherein the longitudinal axis of the boom extends generally horizontally and generally vertically with respect to the frame structure, an arm pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on the frame structure for swinging movement about an axis extending parallel to the axis of swinging movement of said boom, said boom having a part movable therewith and engageable with one end of the arm to swing the latter end downwardly upon movement of the boom to its vertical position, a stop fixed relative to the machine frame in opposed relationship to the end aforesaid of the arm and engageable by said part to locate the boom in its vertical position, and spring means acting on said arm for swinging the end aforesaid of said arm upwardly to a position where the latter end engages said part in opposed relationship to said stop.

7. In a machine tool, a frame structure, a boom having tool actuating means supported thereon adjacent one end thereof, means mounting the boom on the frame structure for swinging movement about an axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boom between positions wherein the longitudinal axis of the boom extends generally horizontally and generally vertically with respect to the frame structure, a stop fixed relative to the machine frame, said boom having a part movable therewith and engageable with said stop upon swinging of said boom to vertical position to locate said boom in the latter posi tion, and an element opposed to said stop and movable toward and away from said stop into and out of clamping relation therewith, said part being engageable with said clamping element upon swinging of said boom to its vertical position to move said clamping element toward said stop and thereby clamp said boom against said stop in its vertical position.

8. In a machine tool, a frame structure, a boom having a tool actuating means supported thereon adjacent one end thereof, means mounting said boom on the frame structure, said mounting means including a bracket carried by the frame structure and slidably supporting said boom for movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis, releasable means for holding said boom against axial movement relative to said bracket, said releasable means including a bolt in the form of a rod having its axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the I boom and mounted on said bracket to one side of the its released position relative to the boom upon loosening the nut.

9: lnsa-machinetool, a frame structure, a boomhaving;v

a: tool actuatingmeans supported thereon adjacent one end thereof,.means mounting said boom on the frame structure; saidmountingmeans including a bracket car'- ried byv the frame structure and slidably supporting said boom'for movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis, releasable means for holding said boom against axial movement relative to said bracket, said releasable means.

including a bolt in the form of a rod having its axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boom and mounted on said bracket to one side of the boom for sliding movement in'directions perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the boom, said bolt having a recess intermediate the ends for freely receiving a portion of saidrboom, and a clamping nut threaded on said bolt and cooperating with said bracket to Wedge one side of the recess againstthe boom upon tightening the nut.

10.- In a'machine tool, a frame structure, a boom having a tool actuating means supported thereon adjacent one.

end thereof, means mounting said boom on the frame structure, said mounting means including a bracket carried by the frame structure and slidably supporting said boom for movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis, releasable means for holding said boom against axial movement relative to said bracket, said releasable means including a: bolt in? the' form ofi a: rod having its. extending; perpendiculan to the, longitudinal axis of: the:- boom and-mounted on said bracketto one side of' the boom. for sliding movement'in directions perpendicular tothe l0ngitudinal axiswofrtheboom; said bolt'having a part'frictionally engageable' with saidboorn, a clamping,

nut threaded on said bolt and cooperating with the'bracket to press-saidpar t against, said boom upon tightening'the' nut: and-spring means acting-on thebolt for moving said bolt to its released positionv relative tothe boom upon loosening the nut;

References: Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Muehling T Dec. 

